India's Action Plan Against Zika Virus Disease I UPSC

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Context:

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said the government of India has formulated an action plan for managing Zika virus Disease.

Details:

About Zika Virus:

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus identified in Uganda in 1947. The infection, often mild and self-limiting, poses significant risks to pregnant women and their fetuses, leading to microcephaly in newborns. It is also linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare nerve disorder causing muscle weakness and paralysis.

Virus	Zika virus (Flavivirus genus, Flaviviridae family)
Transmission	Aedes species mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus)
Associated Diseases	Microcephaly in newborns, Guillain-Barré syndrome
First Discovery	Zika Forest, Uganda, 1947
First Human Case	1952
Significant Epidemic	Brazil, 2015
WHO Declaration	Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), 2016
Spread in India (2018)	Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Spread in India (2021)	Kerala, Maharashtra
Microcephaly in India	Not recorded

Microdetails about the Zika Virus:

Virus Structure	Single-stranded RNA virus, Flaviviridae family
Lineages	Asian and African lineages
Hosts	African lineage: Monkeys and apes (primary), humans (secondary) Asian lineage: Humans (primary)
Structural Proteins	Capsid (C), membrane (M), envelope (E)
Nonstructural Proteins	Seven proteins aiding in genome replication, packaging, and host manipulation
Discovery Technique	Cryo-electron microscopy revealed near-atomic structure for the first time
Transmission Modes	Infected Aedes aegypti mosquito bite, sexual contact, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, congenital infection
Testing	Detection of viral RNA in blood, saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, semen, and breast milk
Symptoms	Incubation: 3-12 days post-bite Common: Maculopapular rash, arthralgia, fatigue, conjunctivitis, myalgia, headache
Less Common Symptoms	Retro-orbital pain, gastrointestinal symptoms
Treatment	No vaccine/preventative treatment Symptomatic: Hydration, pain relief, antihistamines
Control Measures	Regular vector surveillance, integrated vector management
Integrated Vector Management	Environmental modification, protective clothing, repellents, biological control (larvivorous fish, Bacillus thuringiensis), chemical control (larvicides: temephos, adulticides: pyrethrum, malathion)

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Source:

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/action-plan-ready-to-tackle-zika-virus-disease-anupriya-patel-1503326392.html#google_vignette

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zika-virus

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16077-zika-virus

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to the Zika Virus, consider the following statements:
Zika Virus is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Zika Virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
There is currently an effective vaccine available for Zika Virus.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (b)